Firing mechanism for breech-loading guns.



N0. 755,514. PATENTED MAR. 22, 1904 J. P MBIGS & s. A. s. HA MATR. FIRINGMEGHANISM FOR BREECH'LOADING GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. Z. 1901 N0 MODEL. I 5 SHEETS-SHEET 1 f z [Jo/)2 A ggfwwvi N0. 755;514. PATENTED MAR; 22, 1904 "I. P. MEIGS & s. SfHAMMAR. FIRING MECHANISM 130R BREBGH LOADING GUNS.

APPLICATIOQN FILED FEB. 2. 1901.

10 MODEL.

@mizfaw.

No. 755,514. PATENTED MAR. 22, 1904. J; P. MEIGS 5 's A. s.. HAMMAR. -FIRING MECHANISM FOR BRBEGH LOADING GUNS.

APPLIOATIO N FILED FEB. 2-, 1901.

N0 MODEL SSHEBTS-SHEET 3.

/ I g i No. 755,514. PATENTED'MAR. 22, 1904. J. MEIGS &' s. A.--S. HAMMAR. FIRING MECHANISM FOR BREEGH LOADING GUNS;

APPLICATION-FILED FEB; 2, 1901.

N0 MODEL. 6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

No. 755,514. PATENTED MAR. 22, 1964. J. F. MEIGS & s. A. s. HAMMAR.

FIRING MECHANISM FOR BREEGH LOADING GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2, 1901.

5 SHEETSSHEET 5- no MODEL.

Patented Marcia 22,

i i W, lib tram JOHN F. MRIHS AND SIGARI) A. S. HAMMAR, OF SOUTH BETHLEHEM,

PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS TO THE B 'YillLEllllitl b" BEL COMPAN Y,

() SOUTH BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

FlRlN SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 755,514, dated March 22, 190%. Application filed February 2, 1901. Serial No. 45,756. (No model.)

1'0 rrf/ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN F. Mines and SWAIN) A. S. l'lAAUIAIi, of South Bethlehem, in the county of Northampton, and in the State of Pcnnsvlvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Firing; Mechanism t'or Breech-howling (1 has; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which is Figure 1 is a top plan view of of a gun embodying our invention; Fig. 2, an end elevation thereof; Fig. 3, a horizontal section on the line .I' .r ot' Fig. Fig. 4. a detail view in perspective ofthebreech-block: Fig. alike view of one member ot'theelectriccircuit opening and closing device operated by the breech-block; Fig. (5, a detail view in section of the firing mechanism; Fig. 7, a detail view in perspective of the piliner-extractor; and

of a. gun having a diti'crcnt construction of opening and closing mechanis Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the figures.

The object ot' our invention is to provide improved tiring mechanism for breech-loading guns; and to this end said invention consists in the mechanism having the features of construction substz'mtiallv as hereinafter specitied.

In the embodin'ient of our invention selected tor illustration the gun bod v or barrel A supported in a sleeve B, which, as usual. forms a part of the stationanv or non-recoding mount,

longitudinally'in recoil and counter-recoil, a suitable rectal-control!ing mechanism being provided, which need not be described. as it is not claimed herein. The breeclrblock Q which, as shown, is of conical vided with full or contimwus thread, has a shank or stem 0 on its rear end by which it is journaled and supported in a heating in a swii'iging bracket or carrier l), hinged to the gun by a vertical pin or bolt .ll Blush in with a segmental series of gear-teeth (""oiLthe stem 0 is a rack-bar F that extends crosswise of the the breech end form and progun in guideways in the bracket D and is con 'ncctcd by a link G with acurved crank-arm H on the lower end of the hinge pin or bolt The crank-arm H is attached to a pinion-sce'-- meat l, mounted on the hinge-pin. with which meshes a rack-bar la, by the reciprocation oi which the pinion-segment is actuated and the breech-block revolved and its bracket or carrier swung. As tae means for reciprocating the rack-bar li l'orm no part of the invention claimed herein, they need not be described.

Electricity is eniplovcd for tiring the gun, the tiring being under the control of a mariw ally-operated circuit-closing device L. To avoid accidental or premature tiring, there are several safety devices for preventing, the tire of the gun until the breech is closed, each in the form of an automatically op ratcd circuit opening and closing device. One of said safety devices comprises a contact lal, thatco- Fig. s a horizontal section of the breech end I 2 in a block .land adapted under the pressure of f l? is slidinglv mounted inguidcs r a spring to bear ,vieldingly at one end against theend ot the primer and atits other end is connected with a wire or conductor Q. The block and r on the 5 rear l'acc or" a collar it. swivcled on the protruth i ing end oi the stem (3, and

; reciprocate the block P to move the (t and in which the barrel 1S tree to reciprocate it is pivot-ally connected at one end to a crank'arm Fl on the breech-block bracket or carrier l operated, as hereinafter described, to c. .1 .e and ,itact M into and out of contact with the primer. The cap or collar h is conveniently swiveled to the mushroom stem by forming in the latter an annular groove 1 to receive a ring 1 of slightly greaterdiameter than the end of the stem on which the cap isscrcwed. Said ring is made in halves to enable it to be placed in the annular groove 0. The pivotal connection between the block I and the crank S is formed by a pin U, passing through the block and having its inner end engaging a circular recess or Socket s in the crank S, into which said end is ,vicldmgly pressed and held by means oi a.

from this source will fall upon the crank-arm S. U on the outer end of the )in U is a handie or knob a, by means of which the pin may be drawn out of engagement with the socket of the arm 8, so as to free the block P from the latter and permit it to be moved in its guides on the cap R independently of the crank-arm to give access to the primer.

' The arm S has a round portion or hub s, that is iournaled in an opening in the bracket D, and fixedly secured to the inner end of said hub a collar X. A. pin or bolt Y, passing through the arm and screwed into the collar at one end and having nuts screwed on its other end, the thread at the two ends being reversed. the collar and arm together,

and thus secures the arm to the bracket 1). On the collar Y are two spur-teeth 1/ and 7/, that, not in alinemont either in an axial or circumferential direction, one of which cooperates with a notch c of a size just to receive it in. the periphery of ti shank or stem 0 of the breech-block C and the other cooperates with a circumferentially-extending groove or channel a in said shank or stem. the

meshing or en a ement of the tooth '1 with t3 2:

its notch when the block is revolved to open the breech the arm S s turned or swung on its pivot until the tooth passes out of the notch. and then by the engagement of the.

tooth with the periphery of the stem or shank o the arm held in the position to which it is moved, The other tooth 7/ is moved. into the groove a, and thus does not interfere with the rotation oi the arm. Nhen the block is revolved in the reverse direction to close the breech, soon as the notch 0 comes again opposite its tooth 1 one end of the groove 0" engages its cooperating tooth 7 and the arm is swung back to its former position. it will be seen that by the described movements of the arm 5 the block P will he slid inits guides in the cap ll andv rocked by roasonoi' the swiveled (".mncction of the latter with the stem(), and thus rithor withdraw the contact M from contact with the primer and expose the latter to permit its removal and the substitution ol anotlmr or place the contact M in electrical Contact with the primer.

By reason oi the relative position oi the primer and the two pivot-pins U and Y when the brooch is closed and the contact M touches the primer great power is applied to ,he

block P by the arm S during the first portion of the movement of the latter to retract the block to uncover the primer, and we make use of this circumstance to automatically extract the primer. For this purpose we pivot to the inner face 01 the block P a bar Z, having a wedge-form cam 2 on its side adapted to act on the flange of the primer as the block P slides, and thus force out the primer. The extractor Z is pivoted on an axis parallel with the breech-block axis and is normally pressed by a spring A. to position to engage the primer. The ext'actor is in the form of a pivoted bar to enable it to be swung out of the path of the primer-seat to enable the placing of a new primer therein, and it has a notch or cavity in its under side, into which the flange of the newly-inserted primer enters, when the extractor is permitted to drop. Of course when the block 1 is slid to firing position the extractor passes off the primerflange and its edge falls behind the latter to place the cam in position to engage said flange. The free end of the extractor Z is prolonged to constitute a handle for lifting the extractor.

The wire Q, which is connected at one end to the contact M, is at its other end connected to a similar contact B, carried by a radial extension or prolongation of the crankarm S and having the form of a springpressed bolt or pin, which by the swinging of the crank-arm is moved into and out of contact with one end of a bolt 0r pin G, mounted in the breech-block bracket or carrier D, the other end of which cooperates with an electrode 1), fixed to the gun, and which by the swinging oi the carrier 1) is movable into and out of contact- With said electrode. The pin or bolt (3 is yieldingly pressed toward the electrode 1) by a coiled spring F.

it will be seen that the firing-circuit is automatically opened and closed at the breech at three points by the breech opening and closing mechanism, the circuit at two of such points being closed only when the breechblock is screwed into place and the other pointbeingclosed when the carrier is swung to brccclrclosing position. Possibility of accidental liriug before the closing of the breech is thus practically eliminated.

in Fig. 8 is shown a dilieront form of mechanism for openingaml closing the circuit at the primer. ln this instance the contact M is carried by the arm S, being mounted in a sleeve F, slidingly mounted in an opening in the arm and yioldingly pressed forward by a spring G, placed between a flange or head f on the front end of the sleeve and a shouldcrin the arm-opening. Forward movement is limited by the head of a screw ll in the roar'cnl of the sleeve, which abuts against thorear side of tho arm S. The spring'h takes up or cushions the juror shock from the rearward movement oi the stem 0 when reamet-hc gun tired. and thus prevent-s possibility i dania to the arm and its parts from this source. The inner or forward side of the arm reaehes beyond the front end of the contact Iii and the sleeve i and it is therefore nece. to slot the arm 5 sutiiciently to permit it to pass the primer. The outer end of the sleeve F rounded oi to preventie sleeve catching on the fixed contact as the ar ;i is moved to circuit-closing position.

To guard against the possibility of tiring in before it is fully returned to place in provision is made for opening the -tinuing it open when the gun sucn po ition. This simply requires the pro. n of contacts 1 and. K, respectively, on recoding and non-recoiling structure, which only touch oil is completed and the gun place tor-bring. This expedient parts of the when coir J"; is in i 'ow' also a the necessity of providing a per.- tion ot nductor between the tixed and movable parts of the structure capable of elongatienand contraction. One of said contacts is IDOUH so that it may be withdrawn to preve i being touched by the other, so that should we on occasion for inspection of the iwhcn ciosed, as when there i'e, such inspection could be erl eetfreedom from danger of mie'ht exist should the circuit As shown, the electrode li is r )i', siidabiy mounted in a le or non-recoiling part of d in position by a thumb- I ble said electrode to be readily and out of operative position.

i be seen that if the man Whose busilire the gun keeps the manuallyt-closing device in circuit-closi gun Will be tired by the closech, and by thus operating the "re is secured, and by firing breech groo v the gun. i screw :l to placed it 'vvii be LlHtlQl'SiOOtl that though L describe our improvements an we n tthercbyrestrictourconstructions embodying such dei, as. changes in construction may be made whi will involve no departure from the of our invention.

ms described our invention, what 'on with the brecclnblocl; of 7 in having a movable nnectn'ms between said member ch whereby said member derives; the blocii. and means whereby be mow-d independently of wit. siih iautially as and for tho and the breech-block whereby said member derives motion from the breech-block, said connections being separable, whereby said member may be moved independently of the ln'ecch-block, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. in combination with breech mechanism, a block movable to and from tiring position, an extractor carried by the block, connections whereby said block derives motion from the breech mechanism, and means whereby said member may be moved independently of the breech mechanism, substantially as and for the purpose described.

t. in combination with breech mechanism, a block movable to and from tirin position, an extractor consisting of a bar pivoted to the block, connections whereby said block derives motion from the breech mechanism, and means whereby the block may be moved independently of the breechmechanism, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. in combination with the breech mechanism of a gun, a tiring mechanism, a sliding and oscillating block carrying a member of the firing mechanism, a pivoted arm, a pivotal connection between the latter and the block whereby the latter is given both its sliding" and oscillating movements from the arm, and

means for rocking said arm, substantially as and for the purpose described.

6. in combination with the breech-plug ot' a gun, a tiring mechanism, a block carrying'a member oi the liringmechanism, a piece swiveled to the plug on which the block is slidingly mounted, a pivoted arm, a pivotal connection between the latter and the block, and HlQflIiSi Ql rocking said arm, substantially as and for the purpose described.

7. ln combination'with the rotatable breechiJlUCb' of a gun, a sliding and oscillatingblock carrying-amemberof the tiringmechanism for shifting the same to and from liring' position, and means for moving said movable block comprising gearing that connects it with the ln'cech-block, whereby the turning of the latter actuates said movable bloclt, substantially as described.

8. In combination with the breech mechanism ot a gun, an electric firing mechanism, a movable block carrying onc'membcr of a circuit opening and closing" device, an arm carrying one member of another circuit opening and closing device, a connection between the block and arm wherebythe block receives motion from the arm, and a connection between the arm and the breech mechanism whereby the arm receives motion fromthe latter, substantially as described.

l). in combination with the rotatable bloclr of ln'l'i-ch im-chanism, an electric tiring mechanism, a movable block carrying one member ol' a circuit opening and closing,- device, an arm carrying one member of another circuit opening, and closing' device, a connection be.-

the arm receives motion from the latter, substantially as described.

'10. In combination with the block of a breech mechanism, means for rotating the block, an electric firing mechanism, a circuit opening and closing device having a movable contact an arm for moving such contact, a collar connected with the arm having teeth and a part connected to the breech-block having a notch and a circumferential groove to respectively cooperate with said teeth, sul stantially as and for the purpose described.

11. In combination with the rotatable block of a breech mechanism, a movable bracket or carrier therefor, an electric tiring mechanism, circuit opening and closing means actuated by the rotation of the block, and circuit opening and. closing means controlled by the movement of the bracket or carrier, substantially as described.

12. In combination with the bloclr of a breech mechanism, a movable bracket or can ricr therefor, an electric iiring mechanism, a

circuit opening and closing device comprising an arm geared to and receiving motion from the breech-block, and a circuit opening and closing means carried by the bracket or car ricr, substantially as described.

13. In combination with breech mechanism, a firing mechanism, a movable part on which is mounted a member of the firing mechanism for moving said member to and from firing position, and an extractor consisting of a bar movably mounted upon and carried with said part, whereby when the latter is moved to take it from firing position, the extractor will be moved to perform i ts function,substantially as described.

14%. In combination with breech mechanism, a firing mechanism, a sliding block on which is mounted a member of the firing mechanism,

and an extractor consisting of a bar movably mounted upon and carried by said block, substantially described.

15'. In combination with breech mechanism, a firing mechanism, a sliding block on which is mounted a member of the tiring mechanism, and an extractor consisting of a bar having a wedge, pivoted to the block, substantiaily as described.

16. In combination with breech mechanism, an electric iiring' mechanism including an electrode carried by a movableblcck, a swinging support for the block in which the latter is slidihgly mounted, an arm pivoted to the block for sliding the same and a suitable support for said arm, substantial de' scribed.

17 in combination with a breech mechanism, an electricliring mechanism, an automatic circuit opening and closing mechanism, and a safety-circuit opening and closing mechanism having an electrode in position to normally close the circuit that is movable at will to a position to open the circuit, substantially as described 18. in a gun, the combination with breech mechanism, an electric firing mechanism, an automatic circuit opening and closing mechanism, a safety-circuit opening and closing mechanism, comprising two electrodes, respectively on fixed and movable parts of) the gun, and means whereby at will one of said electrodes may be moved to and held in position where it cannot touch the other electrode,

substantially as described. J

in testimony that We claim the foregoing we have hereunto set our hands this it-l1 day of January, A. i). 1901.

JOHN MEIGS. SIGARD A. S. HiiilvilviAR. v'V'itnesses:

JAnns Keenan, C. O. Bnonnnn. 

